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UPDATED: Waldo Canyon Fire Information

Published on June 24, 2012

Stress Information

The Colorado Springs community and the students and staff of Colorado College have experienced ongoing stress for the past week from the Waldo Canyon Fire. Evacuations, loss of property and threats to life and property have been in our thoughts.

Firefighters report that the Waldo Canyon Fire is now 90 percent contained; full containment is expected at midnight tonight. All of CC’s employee evacuees have moved out of temporary housing provided by the college.

Because the fire is mostly controlled now and most of our campus community members have returned home, we will no longer provide regular CC web updates unless conditions change. Please check www.inciweb.org, www.springsgov.com, and www.elpasoco.com for further information.

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UPDATE: 7/03/12 at 11:06 a.m.

Firefighters report that the Waldo Canyon Fire is now 70 percent contained, and 100% contained on its east (Colorado Springs side), west and south perimeters. Most CC evacuees have returned home. Those employees and students who cannot return to their homes because of evacuation or damage are welcome to stay at the college until Aug. 1. More evacuations will be lifted today; about 2,100 area residents remain on mandatory evacuation.

We continue to monitor air quality on campus. Those with respiratory conditions should stay indoors with windows closed if winds blow smoke onto campus. For the most current Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook, visit colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

Because the fire is mostly controlled now and most of our campus community members have returned home, we will no longer provide regular CC web updates unless conditions change. Please check www.inciweb.org, www.springsgov.com, and www.elpasoco.com for further information.

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UPDATE: 7/02/12 at 9:55 a.m.

While most CC-employee evacuees are likely to move out today, those who cannot return to their homes because of evacuation or damage are welcome to stay at the college until Aug. 1.

Most evacuees are now able to return to their homes; about 3,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation orders. The fire is now 55% contained and firefighters report no perimeter growth.

The college remains safe. We continue to provide housing and meals for CC employees and their families affected by the fire.

Firefighters say the fire is now 45% contained. Highway 24 is open to residents of Cascade, Green Mountain Falls, Chipita Park and Crystola; proof of residency is required. Highway 24 is expected to reopen to normal through traffic starting at 1 p.m.; expect delays. More evacuations are being lifted. Check www.inciweb.org, www.springsgov.com, and www.elpasoco.com.

The college remains safe. We continue to provide housing and meals for CC employees and their families who live in evacuation areas.

Firefighters say the fire is now 30% contained. Two-thirds of area residents who were under mandatory evacuation are now allowed to return home; 10,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation orders. Firefighters say that visible plumes of smoke in the mountains are typically signs of their burn operations as they work to fortify fire lines.

In order to relieve Colorado Springs police officers, 160 National Guard officers have arrived in Colorado Springs to help at traffic control points and on patrols.

The Colorado College campus remains safe. About 60 people -- CC employees and their families -- are now being housed on campus.

Firefighters report the fire perimeter did not grow Friday and the fires is now 25% contained. Temperatures are expected to be higher on Saturday. A second fatality, in the same house as the first, was reported today.

We are sharing with evacuees, students, faculty, and staff several tips for dealing with stress related to the fire.

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UPDATE: 6/29/12 at 10:00 a.m.

We want to assure you that the Colorado College campus remains safe and is not directly affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire. The college is providing housing and meals for CC employee evacuees and their families. About 80 people were housed in CC's residence halls earlier this week, but with the lifting of several mandatory evacuation orders, that number is about 50 now.

Firefighters report that the overall size of the fire is now reduced to 16,750 acres and it is 15% contained. Good weather is expected to continue today.

We are saddened to learn that the remains of one person have been found in Tuesday's burn area in the northwest foothills of Colorado Springs. Residents of that neighborhood were notified that 346 homes were lost. We have communicated to our faculty, staff, and students that counseling is available for those experiencing loss, anxiety, and uncertainty.

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UPDATE: 6/28/12 at 4:38 p.m.

Firefighters made significant progress on the Waldo Canyon Fire today, with the best weather and less smoke since the fire started on Saturday. The fire is estimated to be 10% contained now, and evacuations are expected to be lifted soon for the easternmost evacuation zones.

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UPDATE: 6/28/12 at 9:16 a.m.

We want to assure you that the CC campus is still safe and is not directly impacted by the Waldo Canyon Fire. Firefighters are encouraged this morning that they had a successful day Wednesday with no structures lost, and today they have the first break in the weather since the fire started on Saturday. There are no new evacuations at this time.

We are shocked and saddened that many members of the Colorado Springs community’s northwest foothills neighborhoods lost homes on Tuesday. The community, including Colorado College, is pulling together to help those in need. Some of our faculty and staff have been evacuated from their homes because of the fire, and the college is housing and providing meals for many of them on campus. In addition, many employees have offered their homes to CC evacuee families and their pets.

President Jill Tiefenthaler and the college’s emergency management team are meeting regularly and staying informed on the situation. The college does have an emergency plan and if an evacuation were needed, it is prepared.

As the fire continues to burn, we are continuously checking air quality on campus and advising students, faculty and staff to remain indoors with windows closed when smoke is thick, or to relocate if smoke is inside a room. Air quality can change quickly with a shift of the wind. For the most current Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook, visit http://colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

We are shocked and saddened that members of the Colorado Springs community have lost homes to the Waldo Canyon Fire as of Tuesday evening. We want to assure you that the CC campus is safe and is not directly impacted by the fire at this time.

On Tuesday afternoon, due to a combination of high winds, high temperatures and low humidity, the fire moved into residential areas in the northwest foothills of the city. About 26,000 people were evacuated from their homes yesterday. Homes and other structures were lost in those Colorado Springs neighborhoods, which are miles from campus.

The community, including Colorado College, is pulling together to help those in need. Some of our faculty and staff have been evacuated from their homes because of the fire, and the college has offered them housing and meals on campus. In addition, many employees have offered their homes to CC evacuee families and their pets.

President Jill Tiefenthaler and the college’s emergency management team are meeting regularly and staying informed on the situation. The college does have an emergency plan and if an evacuation were needed, it is prepared.

As the fire continues to burn, we are continuously checking air quality on campus and advising students, faculty and staff to remain indoors with windows closed when smoke is thick, or to relocate if smoke is inside a room. Air quality can change quickly with a shift of the wind. For the most current Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook, visit http://colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

We are saddened to report that the Waldo Canyon Wildfire worsened on Tuesday, June 26, with homes and other structures lost on the northwest side of Colorado Springs. At this time, the Colorado College campus is miles from the fire and is not directly impacted. The college is providing housing for CC employees displaced by the fire.

We are continuously checking air quality on the campus. If smoke is thick or becomes thick around Colorado College you may want to remain indoors with windows closed. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. Please stay alert as air quality can change quickly with a shift of the wind. For the most current Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook, visit http://colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

For up to-the-minute information on the Waldo Canyon fire please visit http://www.inciweb.org/ and click on Waldo Canyon Fire.

We will continue to provide updates as developments unfold.

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UPDATE: 6/26/12 at 4:22 p.m.

Colorado College PreEMPT (Emergency Management Team) is monitoring the Waldo Canyon Wildfire burning west of Colorado Springs. At this time, the campus of ColoradoCollegeis not directly impacted by the fire.

As the Waldo Canyon Wildfire continues to burn, we are continuously checking air quality on the campus. If smoke is thick or becomes thick around Colorado College you may want to remain indoors with windows closed. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. Please stay alert as air quality can change quickly with a shift of the wind. For the most current Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook, visit http://colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

For up to-the-minute information on the Waldo Canyon fire please visit http://www.inciweb.org/ and click on Waldo Canyon Fire.

We will continue to monitor the Waldo Canyon Wildfire and provide updates if there are any changes.

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POSTED 6/24/12 at 11:30 a.m.

Colorado College PreEMPT (Emergency Management Team) is monitoring the Waldo Canyon Wildfire burning west of Colorado Springs. At this time, the campus of Colorado College is not directly impacted by the fire.

We are continuously checking air quality on the campus and urge anyone with health concerns to stay indoors and keep all windows closed. Air quality can change quickly with a shift of the wind. To see if a Wildfire Smoke Health Advisory is in effect, visit http://colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

For up to-the-minute information on the Waldo Canyon fire please visit http://www.inciweb.org/ and click on Waldo Canyon Fire.

We will continue to monitor the Waldo Canyon Wildfire and provide updates if there are any changes.